Rivals locked in torque wrench

The new Nissan Pathfinder.

Heavyweight four-wheel-drive rivals Land Rover and Nissan will soon be hurling power and torque figures at each other when they unveil significant new off-road models this year.

Land Rover will launch the new Discovery in April and Nissan will unveil the new Pathfinder in October.

The Discovery comes with the choice of two engines: a 4.4-litre petrol V8 delivering 220kW and 425Nm of torque and mated to a six-speed ZF automatic gearbox, and a 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel producing 140kW and 440Nm and mated to either the ZF automatic or a six-speed ZF manual.

The Pathfinder - inspired by the Dunehawk concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003 - will also have two engine options, both mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.

The petrol unit is expected to be a new 4-litre V6, which powers the US-model Pathfinder. It is an enlarged development of the VQ-series 3.5-litre V6 under the bonnet of the Maxima sedan and 350Z sports car.

In the Maxima, it develops 170kW. In the 350Z it puts out 206kW at 6200rpm and 363Nm at 4800rpm. A feature of the 3.5-litre V6 is its flat torque curve, with more than 300Nm available from 2000rpm thanks to variable valve timing.

The 4-litre version in the Pathfinder has a longer stroke and is expected to deliver about 200kW (270bhp) and 390Nm of torque at around 4000rpm. Most of the torque should be available from 2000rpm.

The turbodiesel for the Pathfinder will almost certainly be a 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit, a YD series design using second-generation common rail technology for lower emissions and a new balancer system for greater refinement.

Nissan will use the same diesel engine in the Pathfinder in Europe, where the carmaker claims it gives category-leading power and torque outputs which out-perform those of larger engines, while also providing improved economy.

But it is keeping the diesel's power and torque outputs under wraps until closer to launch. Indications are, however, that Nissan engineers have extracted around 400Nm from the common-rail unit.

The new Pathfinder will be considerably lighter than the Discovery, which weights in at a lumpy 2.7 tonnes. It will be considerably less expensive, too.

The seven-seat Discovery is priced between $89,500 and $110,000. The seven-seat 2.5-litre turbodiesel Pathfinder is expected to come in under $60,000 and the premium 4-litre below $70,000.

However, Land Rover is aiming the Discovery - an altogether more refined, flexible and capable on-road/off-road package than the outgoing four-wheel-drive model - at the luxury end of the on-road market.

The wheelbase has been increased by more than 300mm, front and rear overhangs have been shortened, and the wheels are positioned more in the corners - geometry that aids handling and ride comfort.

The Pathfinder is equipped with independent double-wishbone suspension all-round and uses an advanced version of the All Mode four-wheel-drive electronic transmission fitted to the X-Trail.

All-Mode allows drivers to choose between four different drive settings via a selector switch, giving the control of a serious off-roader, but without the need to operate a low-ratio gear lever. Nissan will also launch the crossover Murano.